Police estimates, from the Brussels-Ixelles police and organisers, indicated that around 50,000 people took part in the New Year celebrations at the foot of the Atomium in Brussels on Monday evening. These coincided with both the 60th anniversary of the monument and Expo 58. Police added that around a further 4,000 celebrated the New Year on the Grand Place in the city centre.
A DJ opened the evening from 9.30 p.m. at the Atomium. The display “Pedaleando Hacia el Cielo" [a Spanish title which loosely translates into English as ‘Heading eastwards to heaven’] by the Belgium Tol Theatre Company, from 10.30 p.m., offered an aerial light show.
The Mayor of Brussels, Philippe Close, and the Alderwomen for Culture, Tourism and Major Events, Delphine Houba, were notably present for these festivities.
At midnight, after the traditional countdown, a fireworks display lit up the sky for around 20 minutes. The music subsequently resumed until 1 a.m. in the morning.
The Brussels Times
